Airship-steering mechanism



Dec. 15, 1925. 1,565,239

M. W. ADKINS AIRSHIP STEERING MECHANISM Filed March 13. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e ATTORNEY.

Dec- 15, 1925- 1.565.239 M. w. ADKINS AIRSHIP STEERING MECHANISM Filed March 13. 3" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES MARION W. ADKINS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AIRSHIP-STEEBING MECHANISM. l

Application filed March 13, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION 1V. ADKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Airship- Steering Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in airship steering mechanism.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a steering mechanism which is simple, cheap, strong and durable, which is reliable in operation, and with which the upward and downward and lateral steering of the airship may be effected by the manipulation of a single steering post.

My invention provides further novel means for mounting and operating a vertical rudder and a horizontal rudder.

My invention provides still further novel means for mounting a steering post.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an airship provided with my improved steering mechamsm.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, partly broken away,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3-? of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the two rudders and mechanism connected therewith.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the steering post and parts connected therewith.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the steering post and frame and parts connected therewith. I

l T is an enlarged cross section of the spring plate which locks the steering frame in the position to which it isadjusted, and parts connected therewith.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the main frame of an airship of the supporting plane type having at its stern two rearwardly extending arms 2, in which it is oscillatably mounted on a horizontal axis, a horizontal transverse rudder shaft 3, to which is rigidly secured a horizontal rudder 4:, which is located in a longitudina l slot ,5, of a vertical longitudinal rudder Serial No. 624,709.

6, which is laterally oscillatable on a vertical axis comprising a vertical bolt 7, extending through the rudder shaft 3.

Rigidly secured to the rudder shaft 3 at opposite sides of the rudder 4:, are two oppositely extending cranks 8 and 9, to which are respectively secured one set of ends of two cables 10 and 11, the other set of ends of which are respectively secured to the lower and upper ends of a swinging steering frame 12, Figs. 3 and 5, respectively below and above the horizontal axis of the steering frame, the latter is provided at opposite sides respectively with two trunnions 13, which are respectively pivotally mounted in two standards 14-, which are supported on the floor 15, of the main frame of the airship.

ltotatable in both directions in the frame 12 at right angles to the axis of the latter is a steering post 16, having secured to its upper end a steering wheel 17.

Rigidly secured to the steering post 16 is a drum 18, upon which is wound and adapted to be drawn thereby a cable 19, which has running engagement withtwo pulleys 20, rotatably mounted in two members 21, which are rotatably mounted on the rudder shaft. 3, at opposite sides respectively of the axis 7, of the vertical rudder, (i. The cable 19 is attached to the rudder (i. at one side of the axis of the latter, preferably forward of said axis, as shown in Fig. 1.

The main steering frame is provided with a roofed cabin 22, on which are rotatably mounted two pulleys .43, and 2 1, over which run respectively the, cables 11 and 10. The cable 11 extends downwardly to and around a pulley 25, thence to and around a pulley 26, Figs. 3 and 5, thence to the lower end of the frame 12.

The cable 10 extends downwardly from the pulley 24, to a pulley 27, and thence to the upper end of the frame 12.

The cable 19 extends forwardly from the pulleys 20 to two pulleys 28, mounted on the roof of the cabin, thence downwardly to two pulleys 29, thence to two pulleys 30, thence to two pulleys 31, mounted on inner opposite sides of the frame 12, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, thence to and around the drum 18.

When the steering wheel 17 is turned clockwise, the cable 19 will be operated to pull the front end of the rudder 6 to the left, thus steering the ship to the right. hen the steering wheel 17 is turned counter-clockwise. the cable 19 will swing the ship downwardly.

For rcleasably locking the frame 12 in such position as it may be adjusted to, I provide a foot operated pedal comprising a spring plate 32, the forward end of which is rigidly secured to the floor 15, forward of the standards 14, said plate ,having an arcuate portion 33, the center of the are being the axis of the frame 12. Said arcuate portion is provided with a longitudinal row of depressions 34:, either one of which is adapted to receive therein the lower end of the steering post 16, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

For releasably holding the pedal 32 disengaged from the steering post 16, there is provided a right-angled spring plate 35, Fig. 7, the horizontal arm of which is attached'to the floor 15 and the vertical arm of which is provided with a lug 86, having an inclined upper side and adapted to engage the upper side of the spring plate 32. Upon depressing the latter, so that it will pass under the lug 86, the latter will hold the spring pedal plate 32 disengaged from the steering post 16, so that the latter may be swung freely forwardly andbackwardly. 'Upon pushing the vertical arm ofthe plate 35 laterally out of engagement with the pedal 32, the latter will spring upwardly to a position in which it is adapted to enter the depressions 34 of the pedal, so as to-lock the frame 12 from swinging. I

The airship may be steered upwardly'or downwardly, and at the same time to the right orleft by swinging the steering post 16 and at the same time turning it in the proper directions.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, vmay be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a steering mechanism of the kind described, arock shaft having two oppositely extending cranks, two cables respectively attached to said cranks, 'a rudder rigidly attached'to said rock shaft, a second rudder at right angles to the first rudder, a bolt carried by said rock shaft and extending at right angles thereto on which the second rudder is pivoted, two members carried at opposite sides of said second rudder by said rock shaft, and a cable having a. running connection with said members and attached to said second rudder at one side of the pivotal axis thereof.

In a steering mechanism of the kind described, a rock shaft, a rudder fastened thereto to swing therewith in one plane, a second rudder pivoted to the shaft on an axis at right angles to said shaft, and disposed at right angles to the first named rudder; a support, a frame pivoted to said support so as to swing forwardly and backwardly, means including two cables fastened respectively to the upper andlower ends of the frame and connected with and adapted to rock said shaft to and fro when the frame is oscillated, a drum rotatable on the frame on an axis at right angles to the axis of the frame, and means including two cables connected to the rudder which is pivoted on the rock shaft, so as to swing the latter when the last named cables are alternately wound on said drum, the said last named cables being respectively, attached to the periphery of said drum, so that one winds on as the other winds off from said drum.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARION IV. ADKINS. 

